Kendal Rodeo Shag

Kendal - Rodeo Shag.

I wasn't expecting R.S. to be this good. I bought this along with a few other strictly 'budget' blends out of curiosity; how good could a blend that's been made with saving money in mind actually be? Well, this is a surprise!

I was expecting it to be a fine shag cut, but upon opening the pouch I found more of a mid-sized ribbon blend. The moisture's great, and there's not much to report about the pouch-note: a simple VaBur one.

I get my Pete' lit and straight away think to myself how this would cost a lot more money if it were from a company like Peterson or Sam Gawith ; it's better not to think about how much Davidoff would charge! The flavour's great: the Burley seems to be of a lot higher standard than the word 'Budget' suggests. In all fairness, I can taste a far higher proportion of the Burley in comparison to the Virginia: that's not bad though, it's a wonderful nutty/toasty taste.

The nicotine's around medium, and the room-note's exactly as you'd expect from a VaBur!

A good smoke for 6 quid!

Highly recommended.

Rather an odd name for a pipe tobacco; but I suspect that the true purpose of this tobacco is to be used for RYOs, and it's marketed as a pipe tobacco for tactical (i.e. revenue dodging) purposes. Smoked in a pipe, it's not at all bad, with a pure, natural, pronounced burley taste - nutty, toasty, smoky - that surprised me a bit: it's definitely not like smoking dismantled cigarettes, which is what I assumed it would be, and it seems to be free from added flavours and gimmicks. As a shag cut it needs to be packed tight and sipped slowly, or it'll burn away quickly and get hot. This is an uncomplicated, honest tobacco with no airs and graces. I wouldn't queue in the snow to buy it, but it's all right as a 'budget' smoke.

This is the stronger relative of kendal North star. Where North star is basically kendal gold, that is tempered with some burley to cool and strengthen the smoke, kendal rodeo is basically kendal dark that has been tempered with bright Virginia to bring down then strength. However. This is another fine "whiskey smoke" from the Cumbria master blenders.

Opening the pouch the cut is a mixture from fine to thick with a smokey punch, underscored by hints of cocoa, wood, leather and earth followed by a smidgen of citrus from the added Virginia. Packing and lighting is a fuss free affair, however bare in mind that packing needs to tighter. Lighting up the smoke and cocoa are fore front and centre, followed by hints of that leather and wood which is gently dilutes by the citrus of the Virginia. This a fine sipping smoke, the strength is enough to make the uninitiated go "whew" but those of us who are accustomed to kendals darker offerings will know that this will pack a punch. Room note deffinitelt won't win over any new non smoking friends mind you. However it is never overwhelming and a fine smoke for the afternoon or after dinner. A definite 4 star effort.

I almost passed this one by because nothing about the description enticed me. However, it was a GH blend I had not tried yet, so I gave it a go.

The bag note was earthy and odd. There was hay, but something else...what was it? Then it hit me: chicken coop! Yes, it was reminiscent of a chicken coop! Now, if that sounds like a turnoff, please note that Presbyterian tin note has been likened to mucking out a horse stall, and yet Presbyterian is a great blend.

The cut is fine shag, suspiciously like an RYO blend. It came a bit moist, but drying was easy, as was packing. It lights well and -being a shag - can burn quite quickly if not sipped. However, it does not burn hot, the fast burn simply adds to the strength. Even paper dry, it smokes quite well.

The flavor is most reminiscent of GH Dark Birdseye, with DB's somewhat rough and raw edges. It is straightforward and unpretentious - just good, honest tobacco flavor that has a fullness to satisfy.

There is a peppery note on the tongue which would make me swear there is some perique in this, but the description says otherwise. In any case, this is both a satisfying and relaxing blend with a credible strength that I find myself reaching for again and again.